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26/09/2026

Prime Minister Andy Burnham is set to revive a Help to Buy-style scheme aimed at helping first-time buyers get onto the property ladder.

The new “Your First Home” scheme is expected to support buyers in England with deposits as low as 2.5%, alongside a 20% Government-backed equity loan for eligible new-build properties.

The scheme is expected to include household income and local property price limits, with further details due to be announced by Chancellor John Healey at the October Budget.

Supporters say the policy could make home ownership more accessible, while critics argue similar schemes have contributed to higher house prices.

Would a 2.5% deposit make it easier for young Britons to buy their first home? 🏠🇬🇧

24/09/2026

A total of 781 people arrived in the UK by small boat in a single day, according to provisional Home Office figures, taking the 2026 total so far to 18,565.

The latest figure is 42% lower than at the same point last year, when 32,188 arrivals had been recorded.

The Government says it is continuing efforts to tackle small boat crossings, while opposition parties have called for stronger action. The latest figures are likely to keep the Channel migration issue firmly in the spotlight.

23/09/2026

Nigel Farage has criticised Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch over her description of the Piddington controversy as a women’s safety issue.

Badenoch initially wrote that Piddington was “not an immigration issue, it’s a women’s issue”, while also calling for the UK to leave the ECHR and deport illegal arrivals.

Farage responded that the issue should be described as an immigration issue. Badenoch later said her post contained a typo and that she meant it was “not JUST an immigration issue”, arguing that the situation also raises concerns about women’s safety.

The exchange has sparked another public disagreement between the leaders over how the Piddington controversy should be described.

22/09/2026

King Charles has visited Aberdeen to mark the opening of Great British Energy’s new headquarters, praising the city’s long-standing engineering expertise and its role in Britain’s energy sector.

The state-backed energy company also announced £750,000 in new funding for skills, training and employability programmes across the north-east.

However, the move has faced criticism over the number of jobs created at the new base. The Scottish Government says earlier promises of up to 1,000 jobs have not yet been met, while Conservative critics have questioned the amount of public money being spent on the project.

The visit was also the King’s first public appearance since the release of Earl Spencer’s memoir, which has attracted considerable attention within royal circles.

What do you think about GB Energy’s plans for Aberdeen? 🇬🇧

21/09/2026

Households with at least one foreign national received around £11.9 billion in Universal Credit payments in 2025, according to DWP figures obtained through a Freedom of Information request.

The figure represents a 25% increase from £9.5 billion in 2024, with such households accounting for around 15.6% of total Universal Credit payments.

Around £7.7 billion of the payments went to claimants who were out of work.

The figures have drawn criticism from opposition politicians and migration campaigners, while the Government says only people who are legally eligible and have the required access to public funds can claim benefits.

The Government also points to proposed changes to settlement rules and says net migration has fallen significantly from its 2023 peak.

What do you think about the figures? 👇

19/09/2026

Former Defence Select Committee chairman Tobias Ellwood has warned that Donald Trump’s new Greenland security deal could mark a significant shift in the relationship between the US, Europe and NATO.

The agreement with Denmark and Greenland is expected to expand the US military presence on the strategically important Arctic island. NATO has welcomed the move as a step towards greater security and stability in the region.

However, Ellwood argued that the deal could signal a wider change in America’s approach to NATO and Europe, warning that the global order is being “progressively abandoned”.

Trump has said the agreement will come at “no cost to the United States” and give Washington greater freedom to secure and defend Greenland.

What do you think about the new Greenland agreement?

18/09/2026

Andy Burnham is due to meet US President Donald Trump in New York next Tuesday on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly.

The meeting is expected to be more informal than Keir Starmer’s first encounter with Trump, but British officials have warned that Burnham’s more direct approach could lead to friction.

Burnham has said he will “say what he feels” while seeking to build a connection with the US President.

The two leaders are expected to discuss Ukraine and wider security concerns, with Burnham reportedly set to press Trump over continued US military support, including missile supplies.

What do you think of Burnham’s approach ahead of his first meeting with Trump?

17/09/2026

Iceland executive chairman Lord Richard Walker has urged Prime Minister Andy Burnham to make “tough choices” on government spending ahead of the Budget.

Speaking to LBC, Walker said borrowing was becoming less of an option and argued that spending would need to be reduced or its growth slowed. He described Burnham as having been “Father Christmas so far” and said difficult, potentially unpopular decisions were now needed.

Burnham has said his government will maintain fiscal responsibility while protecting living standards.

What do you think?

16/09/2026

Residents of the Oxfordshire village of Piddington have voted for a second time in a symbolic referendum on whether the village should “secede” from the United Kingdom.

The unusual protest comes amid Government plans to accommodate 1,256 male asylum seekers at a nearby former military site — a proposal that has sparked strong opposition and concern among some local residents.

Piddington has around 350 residents, and the first symbolic vote on July 4 saw 96% vote in favour of independence, according to reports.

The latest vote has once again brought national attention to the village, with local residents, politicians and campaigners debating the impact of the proposed accommodation on the community.

The Home Office says former military sites are being considered as alternative accommodation as the Government works to close asylum hotels, while stating that local authorities and police are consulted over safety and security.

📍 What do you think about Piddington's symbolic vote?

15/09/2026

A new poll suggests Nigel Farage and Reform UK could face a significant challenge at the next general election, with 32% of voters saying they would consider tactical voting to keep Reform out of government.

The survey found tactical voting was particularly strong among Liberal Democrat, Labour and Green supporters, with some voters saying they would back another party if it helped prevent a Reform-led government.

Could tactical voting become a major factor in the next election? 🇬🇧

What do you think?
👍 YES — Tactical voting could make a big difference
❤️ NO — Voters should support their preferred party

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